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o oneknew from whence； and they all twittered and chirped； singing〃Spring has e！〃 How beautiful everything was！ Many an old dame cameforth from her door into the sunshine； and shuffled about with greatdelight； glancing at the golden flowers which glittered everywherein the fields； as they used to do in her young days。 The world grewyoung again to her； as she said； 〃It is a blessed time out hereto…day。〃 The forest already wore its dress of dark…green buds。 Thethyme blossomed in fresh fragrance。 Primroses and anemones sprungforth； and violets bloomed in the shade； while every blade of grasswas full of strength and sap。 Who could resist sitting down on sucha beautiful carpet？ and then the young children of Spring seatedthemselves； holding each other's hands； and sang； and laughed； andgrew。 A gentle rain fell upon them from the sky； but they did notnotice it； for the rain…drops were their own tears of joy。 They kissedeach other； and were betrothed； and in the same moment the buds of thetrees unfolded； and when the sun rose； the forest was green。 Hand inhand the two wandered beneath the fresh pendant canopy of foliage；while the sun's rays gleamed through the opening of the shade； inchanging and varied colors。 The delicate young leaves filled the airwith refreshing odor。 Merrily rippled the clear brooks and rivuletsbetween the green； velvety rushes； and over the many…colored pebblesbeneath。 All nature spoke of abundance and plenty。 The cuckoo sang；and the lark carolled； for it was now beautiful spring。 The carefulwillows had； however； covered their blossoms with woolly gloves； andthis carefulness is rather tedious。 Days and weeks went by； and theheat increased。 Warm air waved the corn as it grew golden in thesun。 The white northern lily spread its large green leaves over theglossy mirror of the woodland lake； and the fishes sought theshadows beneath them。 In a sheltered part of the wood； the sun shoneupon the walls of a farm…house； brightening the blooming roses； andripening the black juicy berries； which hung on the loadedcherry…trees； with his hot beams。 Here sat the lovely wife ofSummer； the same whom we have seen as a child and a bride； her eyeswere fixed on dark gathering clouds； which in wavy outlines of blackand indigo were piling themselves up like mountains； higher andhigher。 They came from every side； always increasing like a rising；rolling sea。 Then they swooped towards the forest； where every soundhad been silenced as if by magic； every breath hushed； every birdmute。 All nature stood still in grave suspense。 But in the lanes andthe highways； passengers on foot or in carriages were hurrying to finda place of shelter。 Then came a flash of light； as if the sun hadrushed forth from the sky； flaming； burning； all…devouring； anddarkness returned amid a rolling crash of thunder。 The rain poureddown in streams；… now there was darkness； then blinding light；… nowthrilling silence； then deafening din。 The young brown reeds on themoor waved to and fro in feathery billows； the forest boughs werehidden in a watery mist； and still light and darkness followed eachother； still came the silence after the roar； while the corn and theblades of grass lay beaten down and swamped； so that it seemedimpossible they could ever raise themselves again。 But after a whilethe rain began to fall gently； the sun's rays pierced the clouds；and the water…drops glittered like pearls on leaf and stem。 Thebirds sang； the fishes leaped up to the surface of the water； thegnats danced in the sunshine； and yonder； on a rock by the heavingsalt sea； sat Summer himself； a strong man with sturdy limbs and long；dripping hair。 Strengthened by the cool bath； he sat in the warmsunshine； while all around him renewed nature bloomed strong；luxuriant； and beautiful： it was summer； warm； lovely summer。 Sweetand pleasant was the fragrance wafted from the clover…field； where thebees swarmed round the ruined tower； the bramble twined itself overthe old altar； which； washed by the rain； glittered in the sunshine；and thither flew the queen bee with her swarm； and prepared wax andhoney。 But Summer and his bosom…wife saw it with different eyes； tothem the altar…table was covered with the offerings of nature。 Theevening sky shone like gold； no church dome could ever gleam sobrightly； and between the golden evening and the blushing morningthere was moonlight。 It was indeed summer。 And days and weekspassed； the bright scythes of the reapers glittered in thecorn…fields； the branches of the apple…trees bent low； heavy withthe red and golden fruit。 The hop； hanging in clusters； filled the airwith sweet fragrance； and beneath the hazel…bushes； where the nutshung in great bunches； rested a man and a woman… Summer and hisgrave consort。
〃See；〃 she exclaimed； 〃what wealth； what blessings surround us。Everything is home…like and good； and yet； I know not why； I longfor rest and peace； I can scarcely express what I feel。 They arealready ploughing the fields again； more and more the people wishfor gain。 See； the storks are flocking together； and following theplough at a short distance。 They are the birds from Egypt； who carriedus through the air。 Do you remember how we came as children to thisland of the north； we brought with us flowers and bright sunshine； andgreen to the forests； but the wind has been rough with them； andthey are now bee dark and brown； like the trees of the south； butthey do not； like them； bear golden fruit。〃
〃Do you wish to see golden fruit？〃 said the man； 〃then rejoice；〃and he lifted his arm。 The leaves of the forest put on colors of redand gold； and bright tints covered the woodlands。 The rose…bushesgleamed with scarlet hips； and the branches of the elder…trees hungdown with the weight of the full； dark berries。 The wild chestnutsfell ripe from their dark； green shells； and in the forests theviolets bloomed for the second time。 But the queen of the yearbecame more and more silent and pale。
〃It blows cold；〃 she said； 〃and night brings the damp mist； I longfor the land of my childhood。〃 Then she saw the storks fly awayevery one； and she stretched out her hands towards them。 She looked atthe empty nests； in one of them grew a long…stalked corn flower； inanother the yellow mustard seed； as if the nest had been placedthere only for its fort and protection； and the sparrows wereflying round them all。
〃Tweet； where has the master of the nest gone？〃 cried one； 〃Isuppose he could not bear it when the wind blew； and therefore hehas left this country。 I wish him a pleasant journey。〃
The forest leaves became more and more yellow； leaf after leaffell； and the stormy winds of Autumn howled。 The year was now faradvanced； and upon the fallen； yellow leaves； lay the queen of theyear； looking up with mild eyes at a gleaming star； and her husbandstood by her。 A gust of wind swept through the foliage； and the leavesfell in a shower。 The summer queen was gone； but a butterfly； the lastof the year； flew through the cold air。 Damp fogs came； icy windsblew； and the long； dark nights of winter approached。 The ruler of theyear appeared with hair white as snow； but he knew it not； hethought snow…flakes falling from the sky covered his head； as theydecked the green fields with a thin； white covering of snow。 Andthen the church bells rang out for Christmas time。
〃The bells are ringing for the new…born year；〃 said the ruler；〃soon will a new ruler and his bride be born； and。 I shall go torest with my wife in yonder light…giving star。〃
In the fresh； green fir…wood； where the snow lay all around； stoodthe angel of Christmas； and consecrated the young trees that were toadorn his feast。
〃May there be joy in the rooms； and under the green boughs；〃said the old ruler of the year。 In a few weeks he had bee a veryold man； with hair as white as snow。 〃My resting…time draws near；the young pair of the year will soon claim my crown and sceptre。〃
〃But the night is still thine；〃 said the angel of Christmas；〃for power； but not for rest。 Let the snow lie warmly upon thetender seed。 Learn to endure the thought that another is worshippedwhilst thou art still lord。 Learn to endure being forgotten whileyet thou livest。 The hour of thy freedom will e when Springappears。〃
〃And when will Spring e？〃 asked